Compare towns
Freedom vs Mapleton vs Appleton vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Cambridge has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Freedom | Mapleton | Appleton | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 670 |
1,884Highest |
1,360 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
38.7±1.1Lowest 14% below ME |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±8.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±3 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$63,194±$39k 15% below ME |
| Mapleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$214,900±$61k 28% below ME |
| Appleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,328 23% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,574Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±100 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
14.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 29% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
41 minHighest 65% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.